On Monday the yen slumped the most since 2008 against the dollar as Japan stepped in to foreign-exchange markets to weaken the currency for the third time this year after its gain to a postwar record threatened exporters.The dollar rose against all its major peers after MF Global Holdings Ltd. filed for bankruptcy after making bets on European sovereign debt, driving stocks down and boosting refuge demand. The euro fell versus the dollar today after rising 1.8 percent last week as China’s official Xinhua News Agency said the nation can’t play the role of “savior” to Europe.
On Tuesday the euro weakened for a third day against the dollar, touching the lowest in almost three weeks, as concern the currency region’s rescue plan will crumble and the European Central Bank will cut interest rates damped demand.The dollar and yen strengthened as stocks slid around the world and data showed Chinese manufacturing slowed. Australia’s dollar slid against most of its major peers after the Reserve Bank of Australia lowered its cash rate target by 25 basis points to 4.5 percent.